An example wireless power transmitter includes: (i) a ground plate, (ii) a conductive wire offset from the ground plate, the conductive wire forming a loop antenna that is configured to radiate an RF signal for wirelessly powering a receiver device, (iii) a plurality of feed elements extending from the ground plate to the conductive wire, each feed element being connected to the conductive wire at a different position on the conductive wire, and (iv) a power amplifier connected to one or more feed elements of the plurality of feed elements. The power amplifier is configured to selectively feed the RF signal to a respective feed element of the one or more feed elements based on a location of the receiver device relative to the plurality of feed elements.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A wireless power transmitter, comprising: a ground plate; a conductive wire offset from the ground plate, the conductive wire forming a loop antenna that is configured to radiate an RF signal for wirelessly powering a receiver device; a plurality of feed elements extending from the ground plate to the conductive wire, wherein each feed element is connected to the conductive wire at a different position on the conductive wire; and a power amplifier connected to one or more feed elements of the plurality of feed elements, the power amplifier being configured to selectively feed the RF signal to a respective feed element of the one or more feed elements based on a location of the receiver device relative to the plurality of feed elements.
2. The wireless power transmitter of claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to: select the respective feed element of the one or more feed elements based on the location of the receiver device relative to the plurality of feed elements; and send an instruction to the power amplifier that causes the power amplifier to feed the RF signal to the respective feed element.
3. The wireless power transmitter of claim 2 , further comprising a communications radio configured to receive a communications signal from a corresponding communications radio of the receiver device, wherein the controller is further configured to determine the location of the receiver device relative to the plurality of feed elements based on the communications signal.
4. The wireless power transmitter of claim 2 , further comprising a sensor configured to detect a presence of the receiver device, wherein the controller is further configured to determine the location of the receiver device relative to the plurality of feed elements based on information generated by the sensor.
5. The wireless power transmitter of claim 1 , wherein the conductive wire is configured to radiate the RF signal from the conductive wire with different propagation patterns depending on which of the plurality of feed elements is fed by the power amplifier.
6. The wireless power transmitter of claim 5 , wherein the conductive wire is configured to radiate the RF signal from the conductive wire with the different propagation patterns based on a plurality of physical dimensions of the wireless power transmitter, including: a width of the conductive wire; a length of the conductive wire; a height of the conductive wire; a thickness of the conductive wire; a shape of the loop; and a magnitude of the offset between the ground plate and the conductive wire.
7. The wireless power transmitter of claim 5 , wherein: when the respective feed element is a first feed element of the one or more feed elements that is connected to the conductive wire at a first position, the power amplifier is further configured to feed the RF signal to the first feed element when the location of the receiver device is within a first threshold distance from the first position.
8. The wireless power transmitter of claim 7 , wherein: the conductive wire is configured to radiate the RF signal from the conductive wire in a first propagation pattern of the different propagation patterns when the first feed element of the one or more feed elements is fed by the power amplifier, where a high concentration of RF energy in the first propagation pattern is steered to travel towards the location of the receiver device.
9. The wireless power transmitter of claim 8 , wherein: when the respective feed element is a second feed element, distinct from the first feed element, of the one or more feed elements that is connected to the conductive wire at a second position distinct from the first position, the power amplifier is further configured to feed the RF signal to the second feed element when the receiver device is located at a second location, distinct from the location, the second location being within a second threshold distance from the second position.
10. The wireless power transmitter of claim 9 , wherein: the conductive wire is configured to radiate the RF signal in a second propagation pattern of the different propagation patterns when the second feed element of the one or more feed elements is fed by the power amplifier, where a high concentration of RF energy in the second propagation pattern is steered to travel towards the second location of the receiver device.
11. The wireless power transmitter of claim 10 , wherein the wireless power transmitter is configured such that in use: the RF signal radiated in the first propagation pattern propagates away from the first position in a first direction towards the location of the receiver device; the RF signal radiated in the second propagation pattern propagates away from the second position in a second direction towards the second location of the receiver device; and the second direction is different from the first direction.
12. The wireless power transmitter of claim 11 , wherein the wireless power transmitter is configured such that in use: the first propagation pattern has a first polarization; the second propagation pattern has a second polarization; and the second polarization differs from the first polarization.
13. The wireless power transmitter of claim 1 , wherein: the ground plate is disposed in a first plane; the conductive wire is disposed in a second plane; and the second plane is substantially parallel to the first plane.
14. The wireless power transmitter of claim 13 , wherein the second plane is offset from the first plane by a distance.
15. The wireless power transmitter of claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of feed elements is substantially perpendicular to the first and second planes.
16. The wireless power transmitter of claim 1 , wherein: the conductive wire comprises a plurality of contiguous segments; and each of the plurality of feed elements is positioned between a respective pair of segments of the plurality of contiguous segments.
17. The wireless power transmitter of claim 16 , wherein: one or more first segments of the plurality of contiguous segments have a first shape; and one or more second segments of the plurality of contiguous segments have a second shape different from the first shape.
18. The wireless power transmitter of claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of contiguous segments is configured to radiate the RF signal when one of the plurality of feed elements is fed by the power amplifier.
19. A method of wirelessly charging a receiver device, the method comprising: providing a wireless power transmitter comprising: a ground plate; a conductive wire offset from the ground plate, the conductive wire forming a loop antenna; a plurality of feed elements extending from the ground plate to the conductive wire, each feed element being connected to the conductive wire at a different position on the conductive wire; and a power amplifier connected to one or more feed elements of the plurality of feed elements; selectively feeding, by the power amplifier, an RF signal to a respective feed element of the one or more feed elements based on a location of a receiver device relative to the plurality of feed elements; exciting, by the respective feed element fed by the power amplifier, the conductive wire; and radiating, by the conductive wire, the RF signal for wirelessly powering the receiver device.
20. A transmitter pad comprising: a plurality of a wireless power transmitters, wherein each of the plurality of a wireless power transmitters comprises a ground plate; a conductive wire offset from the ground plate, the conductive wire forming a loop antenna that is configured to radiate an RF signal for wirelessly powering a receiver device; a plurality of feed elements extending from the ground plate to the conductive wire, wherein each feed element is connected to the conductive wire at a different position on the conductive wire; and a power amplifier connected to one or more feed elements of the plurality of feed elements, the power amplifier being configured to selectively feed the RF signal to the one or more feed elements based on a location of the receiver device relative to the plurality of feed elements.
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March 7, 2019
October 26, 2021
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